Method and apparatus for separating coins



Aug. 8, 1933. c, GRAY M 1,921,669

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARA'IING COINS sswwz RAY. our/e 0. Tl/ENBQW BY K r WK RNEYIS.

Filed Oct. 29, 19:0 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 8, 1933.

c; E. GRAY ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING COINS Filed Oct. 29, 1930 's Sheets-Sheet. 2 A

m saw m Rar N 0 R ma r o n r A m Patented Aug. 8,- 1933 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARAT- ING COINS Chester E. Gray and Grover D. Turnbow, Oak

- land, Calif Application October 29, 1930. Serial No. 491,876

Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for distinguishing and separating spurious from genuine coins.

Prior to our invention no satisfactory method 5 has been produced to expeditiously distinguish counterfeit coins from genuine ones and eifect an accurate automatic separation thereof in coin controlled apparatus.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple methodand apparatus for expeditiously and accurately determining the genuineness of coins and effecting a separation of the spurious from the genuine ones.-

We accomplish this object by utilizing the difference in the potential of different metals and alloys. This inherent characteristic of a coin cannot be duplicated in a counterfeit coin or token unless the latter is formed of the same metallic composition as the genuine one. Our method is practiced by providing a circuit of certain characteristics and separately interposing the coins or tokens therein. By comparing the electromotiveforce produced in the circuit by the coins or tokens with that produced by a genuine coin, the spurious coins or counterfeits can be readily detected.

To effect mechanically an automatic separation of the counterfeit and genuine coins and tokens, we provide a selecting mechanism capable of discharging coins at separate points; this mechanism being under the control of the electric circuit referred'to so that the electromotive-force produced in the circuit by the interposition of a coin or token determines at which point the coin will be discharged. This enables rapid and accurate automatic separation of the good coins from the counterfeit ones.

Two forms of apparatus for practicing our method are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuits utilized in one form of the coin selecting apparatus.

' Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through one form of the apparatus employed. Fig. 3 is a view in plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View showing the electrical circuits utilized in connection with a second embodiment of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section through an apparatus for separating silver coins from other coins.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same partially in section.

The present invention is applicable for use in Therefore, it is to be understood that our method and apparatus canbe put to a wide range of uses without departing from the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, in Figs. 1 to 3 we have illustrated a machine for determining the genuineness of five cent coins, in which device 9 indicates a coin selecting or separating mechanism which includes guideway 10 of sufficient dimensions to receive a live cent coin. An actuator 11 is reciprocably mounted in alignment with the guideway. This actuator is adapted to engage a coin deposited in the guideway so that inward movement of the actuator will move the coin to a point of discharge in the separating mechanism. At this point in. the

mechanism the open terminals of two discharge able metal and a contact member 16 which are suitably connected with a contact making relay.

The plate 15 is maintained at a constant temperature above the temperature of the remainder of the circuit by an electric heating element of any suitable design. We have found that a temperature of 220 degrees to be satisfactory.

--It will be noticed that the plate 15 and contact member 16 are spaced apart and positioned so that when a coin is delivered on edge to the guideway it will contact both with the hot plate l5 and the contact member 16 and complete the thermo-electric circuit. Due to the difference in potential of the two metals a thermoelectromot'ive-force will be produced in this circuit which will be increased by the diiierence in temperature between the plate and the coin. The thermo-electromotive-force produced when a genuine nickel coin is interposed in the circuit is such as to influence the galvanometer of the relay sufiiciently to cause the needle to. close a circuit through an electromagnet 17. However,

when coins of lesser thermo-electric power are interposed in the circuit the electromotive-force produced is insufiicient to close the magnet circuit. i

The electromagnet 17 operates an oscillatory control member 18 arranged relative to the terminals of the chutes 12 and 14 to divert coins delivered to the guideway to either of the chutes. That is, in one position it will divert coins to chute 12 while in its other position it will divert coins to chute 14. The control member is constructed and mounted that it will normally assume a position diverting coins from the guideway into chute 14. However, when the electromagnet 17 is energized, it will attract the control member and cause it to assume a position directing coins to chute 12. When the magnet circuit is opened the control member automatically assumes its normal position described.

Therefore, in operation of the form of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive when a coin is inserted into" the guideway, it must travel between the hot plate and the contact member, the latters inherent resiliency causing a good contact to be obtained. If the coin is of the same metal as a genuine one, the resultant thermo-electromotive-force is sufllcient to move the needle of the galvanometer to a position closing the circuit of the electromagnet which moves the control member to a position directing a coin into chute 12. As the coin is moved out of register with the hot plate and contact member it will pass into chute 12. The circuits will then be opened and the control member 18 will return to normal position. If the coin is a spurious one,

the circuit of the electromagnet will not be closed and the coin will discharge through chute 14.

In the form of the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, an aperture 19 is formed in one side of the guideway 10 intermediate the ends thereof. Arranged at this side of the guideway 10 in alignment with the aperture 19 is a spring member 20 of conducting material. Supported by this spring member 20 is a wick 21 formed principally of fluid absorbent material. Incorporated in this wick, however, in the form of fine copper wires, is a copper electrode.

It wil be noticed that the upper end of the wick is wound about the spring member 20 but this winding is effected in such a manner that the copper electrode incorporated into the wick will not come in contact with a coin passing along the guideway but will form a contact with the member 20. A portion of the wick, however, will be disposed in such a position through the aperture 19.by the spring member 20 that it will yieldingly contact with a coin passing along the guide- The lower end of the wick with the copper electrode, depends within a glass jar 22 and is immersed in an electrolyte such as sodium acetate in the jar 22. V

Disposed in the guideway 10 in a position to contact with a coin passing along the guideway simultaneously with the contact between the coin and the wick 21, is a contact member 23 formed of conducting material which is inherently resilient.

The copper electrode incorporated in the wick and the contact member 23 are electrically connected by copper conductors to the contact making relayhitherto referred to so'that when a coin is interposed between the wick and the contact member 23, an electromotive-force will be produced in the circuit. In this manner the metal of which the coin is formed can be determined by the influence of the potential of the coin on the galvanometer.

When the electromotive-force produced reaches a predetermined value, the galvanometer will be actuated to close the circuit of the electromagnet 1'7 and thereby operate the control member 18.

The necessary electromotive-force is predetermined by the positions of copper and silver in the electro-chemical series so that when a genuine silver coin is interposed in the circuit the electromagnet will be energized so as to operate the control member to direct the coin to the chute 12.

If the coin is constructed of other metal of a different potential than silver so that a lesser amount of electromotive-force is set up in the circuit, the electromagnetic circuit will not be closed and the coin will discharge through the chute 14.

In operation of the form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, the contact adjacent the needle of the galvanometer is so adjusted that a contact will not be established unless the electromotive-force produced in the circuit by the interposition of the coin is greater than a predetermined value. The coin is then inserted in the guideway and the actuator 11 is operated to move the coin inwardly between the contact member 23 and with the electrolyte in the jar 22 through the medium of the wick 21.

The moment this contact is made, a current will be generated and caused to flow in the circuit and affect the position of the magnetic needle.

If the coin is a genuine coin, sufiicient electromotive-force will be produced toclose the circuit of the magnet and thus direct the coin to the chute 12. If an electromotive-force is produced less than that of the predetermined value, the electromagnet will not be energized and the coin will be discharged through the chute 14. Therefore, the potential of the metals or which the coins are formed is the medium by which the genuine coins are separated from the spurious ones.

While we have illustrated our invention as applied to coin separating machines, it is apparent that the coins can be distinguished by com- .paring the readings of the galvanometer as the coins are separately interposed in the circuit. Also, a visible or audible signal can be interposed in the circuit closed by the relay, which signal can be located at anydesired point.

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided an extremely eifective method and means for distinguishing counterfeit coins from genuine ones and also that we have provided an apparatus which will automatically separate the The word coins as used herein or in the claims, unless otherwise distinguished, comprehends not only legal tender but tokens genuine -a resilient member normally overlying the end of one chute, and adapted to be drawn to a position overlying the other chute by an electromagnet, athermocouple adapted to include as one of its elements a coin being introduced to said chutes, a switch actuated by the electrometive force of said thermocouple to close a circuit to said electromagnet, and means to force a coin through said thermocouple and into position to enter one of said chutes. ,5 2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a main coin chute, a pair of secondary coin chutes communicating with separate receptacles and having open ends in communica- 7 tion with the main coin chute, an oscillatory clo- 10 sure member adapted to overlie either of the secondary coin chutes, an electromagnet controlling the position of said closure member, a ';thermocouple producing electromotive force to close a switch to said electromagnet and includ- 3 ing a coin positioned in said main coin chute,

said closure member and thermocouple being so positioned that a-single coin can engage both concurrently, and means for forcing a coin through said thermocouple and into position to 2 enter one of said secondary coin chutes. 3. An apparatus of the'character described comprising a main coin chute, a pair of secondary coin chutes communicating with separate receptacles and having open ends in communication with the main coin chute, means to force a coin through the main chute and into one of the secondary chutes, a resilient member normally overlying the end of one secondary coin chute to form a closure therefor, an electromagnet capa- 0 bie upon being energized to draw said resilient member away from said chute and over the other secondary chute, a thermocouple producing electromotive force to close a switch to said electromagnet and including a coin positioned in said main coin chute, said closure member and thermocouple being so positioned that a single coin can engage both concurrently.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a' main coin chute, a pair of secondary coin chutes having openends in communication with the main chute, means to selectively close one or the other of the secondary chutes, an electromagnet controlling the position of said means, a thermocouple producing electromotive force to close a; switch to energize said electromagnet and including a coin positioned in said main coin chute, and means for pushing a coin through said main chute and into one of said secondary chutes. i

' 5. In an apparatus of the character described, a coin chute, means for forcing a coin through the chute, a thermocouple including a coin in the chute, means actuated by the electromotive force set up by said thermocouple when a genuine coin is in the chute for separating genuine and spurious coins, said coins engaging said separating means before they lose contact with said thermocouple.

CHESTER E. GRAY.

GROVER n. TURNBOW, 

